Image forming apparatus, image forming method and storage medium therefor

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are an image forming apparatus and an image forming method for, in the halted state where trial copying of one set is completed, determining whether a mode has been changed, and for automatically changing a numeral accordingly. According to the present invention, an image forming apparatus comprises: an image input device, for entering an image; a storage device, for storing the image; an image forming unit, for reading the image from the storage unit and for forming the image; and a controller, for providing control for the image forming unit in accordance with a mode set for an image copying process, wherein a function is provided that can set a trial copying mode for an image forming process and can copy one set when the trial copying mode is effective, and that can thereafter temporarily halt the image forming process and enable a mode reset, and wherein for a copying operation performed after the trial copying mode is released, a numeral can be set to a predetermined value in accordance with a mode change effected during a halted state existing immediately before the copying.

This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/840,397, filed on May 7, 2004, which issued as U.S. Pat. No.6,973,273, and which is a divisional application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/866,789, filed on May 30, 2001, which issued asU.S. Pat. No. 6,757,500.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as adigital copying machine or the like.

2. Related Background Art

Digital copying machines, which were developed only recently, are now inwidespread use.

One such digital copying machine uses a CCD to read an image and producean image signal, converts the image signal into a digital signal fromwhich, after it is subjected to various processes, a laser signal isobtained and used for an electrophotographic technique that reproducesthe original image on a recording medium.

Another digital copying machine has been developed that temporarilystores an image signal in image memory, such as on a hard disk, andlater reads the signal and uses it for image forming. According to thistechnique, once a scanner has read an image, the obtained signal canrepetitively be used for image forming, and not only can multiple copiesbe produced, but the technique can be effectively employed for afunction such as digital sorting.

Further, since image memory is included, a trial copying function hasbeen proposed whereby after one set of images has been copied a user mayconfirm the results and either instruct that image forming be continuedor that the setting mode be changed.

Conventionally, however, for the trial copying function, noconsideration is given to the intent of a user concerning how manycopies remain to be printed after the trial printing has been completedand before the final image printing is initiated.

For example, when the trial copying of one set is performed, and theuser is satisfied and instructs that the copying be continued, the trialcopy can be regarded as a regular copy, and the count of the remainingcopies can be obtained by decrementing by one the numeral that wasoriginally set.

Further, when after the trial copying a mode change is instructed, it isassumed the user was not satisfied with the trial copy, and for thecontinuous copying process, the count of the images to be formed is thenumeral that was originally set.

However, since for the conventional technique no method is provided forcontrolling the number of images to be produced at the time of the trialcopying, depending on the situation, the user must change the copy counteach time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To resolve the above shortcomings, it is one objective of the presentinvention to provide an image forming apparatus and an image formingmethod for determining, after the trial copying has been completed,whether a mode change has been performed, and for enabling, inaccordance with the determination results, the automatic altering of theoriginal copy count, and to provide a storage medium therefor.

To achieve this objective, according to the present invention, an imageforming apparatus comprises:

an image input means, for entering an image;

a storage means, for storing the image;

an image forming means, for reading the image from the storage means andfor forming the image; and

a control means, for providing control for the image forming means inaccordance with a mode set for an image copying process,

wherein a function is provided that can set a trial copying mode for animage forming process and can copy one set when the trial copying modeis effective, and that can thereafter temporarily halt the image formingprocess and enable a mode reset, and

wherein for a copying operation performed after the trial copying modeis released, a numeral can be set to a predetermined value in accordancewith a mode change effected during a halted state existing immediatelybefore the copying.

Further, according to the present invention, an image forming methodcomprises the steps of:

entering an image;

storing the image;

reading the stored image and forming the image;

providing control for the image forming method in accordance with a modeset for an image copying process; and

enabling setting of a trial copying mode for an image forming process,copying of one set when the trial copying mode is effective, thereaftertemporarily halting of the image forming process and enable a modereset, and, for a copying operation performed after the trial copyingmode is released, setting of a numeral to a predetermined value inaccordance with a mode change effected during a halted state existingimmediately before the copying.

Further, according to the present invention, a storage medium isprovided on which a program is stored to carry out an image formingmethod, which comprises the steps of:

entering an image;

storing the image;

reading the stored image and forming the image;

providing control for the image forming method in accordance with a modeset for an image copying process; and

enabling setting of a trial copying mode for an image forming process,copying of one set when the trial copying mode is effective, thereaftertemporarily halting of the image forming process and enable a modereset, and, for a copying operation performed after the trial copyingmode is released, setting of a numeral to a predetermined value inaccordance with a mode change effected during a halted state existingimmediately before the copying.

Other features and configurations of, and effects produced by thepresent invention will become apparent during the course of thefollowing detailed explanation given while referring to the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the essential portion of an imageforming apparatus that is a digital copying machine according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a signalprocessing circuit and the essential portion of a reader;

FIG. 3 is a detailed diagram used for explaining an operation unit 123;

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E are diagrams for explaining an example imagereading method;

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example image storage method;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for a control task for the operation unit 123;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart for a trial copying process during the controloperation while in the idle state of the operation unit 123;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart for the control of a copying sequence taskaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart for a trial copying intermediate state controloperation;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a copying mode setting screen in the idlestate;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a trial copying mode ON display screen;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a trial copying display screen;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a setting change selection screen;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a reset screen; and

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a trial copying display screen after thereset.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now bedescribed.

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of the essential portion of animage forming apparatus that is a digital copying machine according tothe present invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an examplestructure for a signal process circuit and the essential portion of areader; FIG. 3 is a detailed diagram for explaining an operation unit123; FIGS. 4A to 4E are diagrams for explaining an example image readingmethod; FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example image storagemethod; FIG. 6 is a flow chart for a control task for the operation unit123; FIG. 7 is a flow chart for a trial copying process among thecontrol in the idle state of the operation unit 123; FIG. 8 is a flowchart for the control of a copying sequence task according to theinvention; FIG. 9 is a flow chart for a trial copying intermediatecontrol operation; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a trial copyingselection display screen; FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a trial copyingmode ON display screen; FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a trial copyingdisplay screen; FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a setting change selectionscreen; FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a resetting screen; and FIG. 15 isa diagram showing a trial copying display screen after the resetting.

The image forming apparatus of the invention will now be described whilereferring to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the structure of a reader unit 1 anda printer unit 2. The configuration and the operation of thesecomponents will now be described.

An original document stacked on a document feeder 101 is conveyed sheetby sheet to a document mounting glass 102. When the document has reacheda predetermined position on the document mounting glass 102, a lamp 103of a scanner is turned on, and a scanner unit 104 is displaced to exposethe document. Light reflected by the document is transmitted via mirrors105, 106 and 107 and a lens 108 to a CCD image sensor 109 (hereinafterreferred to as a CCD).

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram showing the signal processingconfiguration of the reader unit 1. The configuration and the operationof the reader will now be explained.

In FIG. 2, photoelectric conversion is performed for the light reflectedby the document and transmitted to the CCD 109, and electric signals forred, green and blue (R, G and B) colors are obtained. The colorinformation obtained by the CCD 109 is amplified by succeedingamplifiers 110R, 110G and 110B in accordance with the input signal levelof an A/D (analog-to-digital) converter 111. The signal output by theA/D converter 111 is transmitted to a shading circuit 112, which thencorrects for the uneven distribution of light by the lamp 103 and theuneven light sensitivity of the CCD 109. As signal from the shadingcircuit 12 is transmitted to a Y signal generation/color detectioncircuit 113 and to an external I/F (interface) switching circuit.

The Y signal generation/color detection circuit 113 employs thefollowing equation to calculate the signal received from the shadingcircuit 112, and to obtain a Y signal:Y=0.3R+0.6G+0.1B.

Further, a color detection circuit is provided to separate the R, G andB signals into signals for seven colors, and to output these signals.The signals output by the Y signal generation/detection circuit 113 arethen transmitted to a magnification change/repeat circuit 114. Themagnification in the sub-scanning direction is changed by using thescanning speed of the scanner unit 104, and the magnification in themain scanning direction is changed by the magnification change/repeatcircuit 114. Furthermore, multiple like images can be output by themagnification change/repeat circuit 114. The contour/edge emphasiscircuit 115 obtains edge emphasis and contour information by emphasizingthe high-frequency element of a signal received from the magnificationchange/repeat circuit 114. The signal from the contour/edge emphasiscircuit 115 is transmitted to a marker area judgement/contour creationcircuit 116 and a patterning/fattening/masking/trimming circuit 117.

The marker area judgement/contour creation circuit 116 reads a portionof the document drawn using a marker pen of a designated color, andgenerates contour information for the marker. Then, thepatterning/fattening/masking/trimming circuit 117 employs the contourinformation to perform fattening, masking or trimming, and also performspatterning by using a color detection signal received from the Y signalgeneration/color detection circuit 113.

When a signal is to be output by thepatterning/fattening/masking/trimming circuit 117 to the printer unit 2,the signal is selected by an image data selector circuit 118, which willbe described later, and is transmitted to a laser driver 119, whichthereafter converts the received signal into a signal for driving alaser. The signal is then transmitted by the laser driver 119 to theprinter unit 2, and a visible image is formed.

<Explanation of Image Memory 120>

In FIG. 2, the image memory 120 includes a function whereby, inaccordance with a method that will be described later, image datareceived from the image data selector circuit 118 are stored at adesignated location in the image memory 120 or are read therefrom, andthrough a rotation process, the images are synthesized in the memory.

A CPU 122, which controls the reader unit 1, includes a ROM 124 used forstoring a control program and an error processing program, a RAM 125used as a work area for various programs, and various timer controller.An operation unit 123 is provided with various keys used to instruct animage operation, such as the editing of image contents and the number ofcopies relative to the image process of the reader unit 1, and a displayunit for displaying the manipulation contents.

FIG. 3 is a detailed diagram showing the operation unit 123 for theinvention. Various keys and a liquid crystal display unit 301, which isa liquid display device consisting of a dot matrix, are arranged on theoperation unit 123.

The liquid crystal display unit 301 displays the state of the apparatus,the number of copies, the magnification, the selected sheet type andvarious operating screens, and is operated by a control key.

A start key 303 is used to start copying, and a return key (reset key)202 is used to return a set mode to the standard state. Ten keys, 0 to9, are used to enter the number of copies and the zooming magnification,and a clear key is provided that is used to clear entries. A density key306 is used to increase or decrease the density, and the densityadjustment obtained by this key 306 is displayed in a display portion307. A key portion 308 is a key and a display portion for turning on andoff the automatic density adjustment function. A key 309 is used toselect a paper feeding level and automatic paper feeding, and theselected state is displayed on the liquid display unit 301. A key 311 isused to set the standard magnification, or a reduction/increase in themagnification based on the standard size. A key 310 is used to set anautomatic magnification mode, and the selected state is also displayedon the liquid crystal display unit 301.

The image storing method and the image reading method will now bedescribed while referring to FIGS. 4A to 4E.

In FIG. 4A, the storage area for one image memory is shown. In thisinvention, capacity of the storage area is sufficient to hold the datafor an A3 sheet, size, and is constituted by 4661 vertical bits and 6596horizontal bits. As is shown in FIG. 5, one image layout area and imagestorage areas for storing the images for 100 sheets are provided. In anexample in FIG. 4B, a document image is stored in the image memory. Adocument placed as in a state B-a is read in order in the directionindicated by an arrow. And as in a state B-b, address (0,0) isdesignated so that it can be incremented in the X direction and in the Ydirection beginning at the start position, and when the first line hasbeen read, the counter in the Y direction is incremented and the data iswritten in the direction leading toward address (0, 4661). When thesecond line is read, the counter in the X direction is incremented, andthe data is written in the direction leading from address (1, 0) toaddress (1, 4661). When the third line is read, the counter in the Xdirection is again incremented, and the data is written from address (2,0) to address (2, 4661). The reading and writing of data is repeated inthis manner until the last data is written at address (3297, 4661).

The process in FIG. 4B for reading image data from the image memory willnow be described while referring to FIGS. 4C and 4D. As in a state C-a,while address (3271, 0) is designated as the start position, anddecrementation and incrementation are respectively designated for thecounter in the X direction and the counter in the Y direction, the firstline is read by decrementing the X counter. Then, the Y counter isincremented, and the second line is read in the direction leading fromaddress (3297, 1) to address (0, 1). Therefore, by reading data in thismanner, the image in a state C-b is obtained.

For the thus stored data, while the address (0, 0) is designated as thestart position and incrementation and decrementation are respectivelydesignated for the counter in the X direction and the counter in the Ydirection, the first line is read by incrementing the Y counter in thedirection leading toward address (0, 4661), as in a state D-a.

Following this, the X counter is incremented, and the second line isread in the direction leading from address (1, 0) to address (1, 4661).The image in a state D-b is obtained by reading the data in this manner.

Therefore, when the A4 document in the state B-a is read in thedirection shown in FIG. 4C, the image can be read without being rotated.

The image layout memory will now be explained. When, as previouslydescribed, individually stored images in states E-a and 4E-b are readand are written to desired location in the image layout memory, separatedocument images can be synthesized in the memory, as in a state E-c.

<Explanation for Printer Unit 2>

The configuration and the operation of the printer unit 2 will now bedescribed, while referring to FIG. 1.

An image signal supplied to the printer unit 2 is converted into ademodulated light signal by an exposure controller 201, and this lightis used to expose a photosensitive member 211. A latent image is formedon the photosensitive member 211 by the light, and is developed by adeveloping device 212. A transferring sheet is conveyed by atransferring sheet loading unit 214 or 215 in synchronization with thetiming for the leading edge of the developed image, and the developedimage is transferred to the sheet by a transferring device 216. Theimage is then fixed to the transferring sheet by a fixing device 217,and the resultant sheet is discharged to the outside of the apparatus bya discharge unit 218. The transferring sheet output by the dischargeunit 218 is passed through a punch unit 250, and is punched when thepunching function is active. The transferring sheet is then conveyed toa sorter 230, and is sorted into individual bins when the sortingfunction of the sorter 230 is active, or is discharged to the top binwhen the sorting function is not active.

Next, a method for outputting sequentially read images to both sides ofa single output sheet will be described.

A sheet to which an image has been fixed by the fixing device 217 isfirst conveyed to the discharge unit 218 whereat the sheet conveyingdirection is inverted and the sheet is again conveyed to a transferringsheet re-feeding unit 221 via a conveying direction switching unit 219.When the next document is set, the document image is read in the samemanner, and the transferring sheet is supplied from the transferringsheet re-feeding unit 221, so that two document images are printed on asingle sheet on the obverse and reverse faces.

The trial copying operation that is most relevant to the invention willnow be described while referring to the flow charts in FIGS. 6 to 9 andFIGS. 10 to 15.

First Embodiment

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the control task for the operation unit123 and the liquid crystal unit 301. This control section is activatedwhen the apparatus is powered on, and is always set in the active state.

At step S601, a check is performed to determine whether the apparatus isin the idle state. The idle state is the state wherein no jobs, otherthan a copying job, are currently being executed. When the decision isYES, program control advances to step S602, and control is exercised inthe idle state. When the decision is NO, program control is shifted tostep S603, whereat a check is performed to determine whether theapparatus performing a copying operation. When a copying operation iscurrently being performed, the decision at step S603 is YES, and programcontrol advances to step S604 to provide control for the operation. Whenthe decision at step S603 is NO, program control is shifted to stepS605, whereat a check is performed to determine whether the apparatus isin the trial copying intermediate state. The trial copying intermediatestate is the state wherein, when the trial copying for one set has beencompleted, the job is temporarily halted and the user operation ispermitted. This state will be described in detail later.

When the decision at step S605 is YES, program control advances to stepS606 to control the trial copying intermediate state. When the decisionat step S605 is NO, program control returns to step S601.

An explanation will now be given, while referring to the flow chart inFIG. 7, for the trial copying control, which is especially related tothe invention, during the control process performed by the operationunit 123 in the idle state at step S602.

In the idle state, the screen in FIG. 10 is displayed, and the user canset a numeral and a copy mode, such as sheet selection and sorting.

In FIG. 10, a trial copying key 500 is used to set the trial copying.This key 500, which is normally not displayed, is displayed inaccordance with the mode setting state. This will be described belowwhile referring to FIG. 7.

At step S701 in FIG. 7, a check is performed to determine whether anumeral has been entered using the ten keys in the key group 205. Whenthe decision is YES, at step S702, the numeral is set. This numeral ismaintained unless it is cleared or reset by the user. Program controlthen advances to step S703.

When the decision at step S701 is NO, program control is shifted to stepS703. At step S703, a check is performed to determine whether a modeother than that indicated by the numeral, such as the mode for sheetselection, sorting or two-faced copying, has been entered. If thedecision at step S703 is NO, program control is shifted to step S705. Ifthe decision is YES, program control advances to step S704, whereat theinput mode is set and program control advances to step S705.

At steps S705 and S706, a check is performed to determine whether thenumeral is equal to or greater than one, or whether the sorting mode hasbeen set. When both conditions are YES, program control advances to stepS707, and the trial copying key 500 in FIG. 10 is displayed. That is,since it is meaningless to perform trial copying for the non-sortingmode or for copying when the numeral “1” is set, the trial copying key500 is not displayed. At step S708, a check is performed to determinewhether the trial copying key 500 has been turned on. When the trialcopying key 500 is in the ON state, at step S710 the trial copying modeis set to ON. At this time, the trial copying key 500 is inverted toblack, as is shown in FIG. 11. When it is ascertained at step S708 thatthe trial coping key is not turned on, or when the decision at step S705or S706 is NO, program control is shifted to step S709, and the trialcopying mode is turned off.

Then, at step S711, a check is performed to determine whether the startkey 203 has been depressed. When the decision is NO, program controlreturns to step S701, and the process for the idle state is repeated.When the decision is YES, program control advances to step S712, and thecopying sequencer control task is activated. At this time, data for thenumeral, the trial copying mode and the other mode that were setpreviously are transmitted from the operation unit control task to thecopying sequence task.

Program control thereafter advances to step S713, whereat the copyingsequence is shifted to the operating state, and the idle state isterminated.

The control process particularly related to the invention in the copyingsequence task will be descried while referring to the flow chart in FIG.8.

When the copying sequence task is activated, first, at step S801 a checkis performed to determine whether the trial copying mode is set. Whenthe decision is YES, program control advances to step S802, and thenumeral is set to “1”. This numeral is a temporary numeral that differsfrom the numeral set by the user and is used for another internalprocess, and in the trial copying mode, the mode enters to theintermediate state after one copy is obtained. Program control advancesto step S803, and the operation unit control task is notified of theinitiation of the trial copying operation. Upon receipt of thisnotification, the operation unit control task enters the process at stepS604, and in this control, the display is switched to the screen shownin FIG. 12.

Program control advances to step S804, and the copying is started. Inthis process, a document is read, image data are stored in the imagememory 120, and the image is copied for one set. When the process iscompleted, program control is shifted to step S806, and the mode isshifted to the trial copying intermediate state. This information istransmitted to the operation unit control task at step S805, and theprocess at step S606 in the trial copying intermediate state isperformed.

The process in the intermediate state will now be described whilereferring to the flow chart in FIG. 9 and display screens in FIGS. 13 to15.

In the intermediate state, the screen in FIG. 13 is displayed. On thescreen in FIG. 13, a setting change key 601, a stop key 602 and a printstart key 603 are provided.

At step S901 in FIG. 9, a check is performed to determine whether thestep key 602 is depressed. When the decision is YES, program control isshifted to step S916, and a stop request is issued to the copyingsequence task. At step S917, it is ascertained the copying sequence isperformed in the idle state, and the trial copying intermediate controlis terminated.

When the decision at step S901 is NO, program control advances to stepS902, and a check is performed to determine whether the setting changekey 601 is depressed to request the setting change. When the decision isYES, program control is shifted to step S911, and at this time, thedisplay is changed to the resetting screen in FIG. 14. At step S911, acheck is performed to determine whether a specific ten-key of the keygroup 205 is depressed and the numeral is changed. When the decision isYES, the entered numeral is newly set at step S912. After this process,or when the decision at step S911 is NO, program control advances tostep S913.

On the resetting screen, a sheet select key 701, a sort setting key 702,a margin setting key 703, a density setting key 704 and a two-facedcopying setting key 705 are displayed, and the mode change other thanthe numeral change is permitted. At step S913, a check is performed todetermine whether the change of any of these modes has been instructed,and if so, program control advances to step S914 whereat the mode isresetting.

After the process at step S914, or when the decision at step S913 is NO,program control advances to step S915, whereat a check is performed todetermine whether the user completes the setting change and depresses aclose key 706 in FIG. 14. If the decision is NO, program control returnsto step S911.

When the decision at step S915 is YES, or when the decision at step S902is NO, program control is shifted to step S903. When specific settingchange has been entered at steps S911 to S915, program control isshifted to step S904. At this time, a trial copying key 801 isdisplayed. By depressing the trial coping key 801, the user can performtrial copying again based on the mode that is changed.

At step S904, a check is performed to determine whether the trialcopying key 801 has been depressed. When the decision is YES, programcontrol advances to step S909, and the restart of the copying sequenceis requested. In this process, the mode that is changed, and other modedata that is originally set are transmitted from the control task to thecopying sequence task.

When the decision at step S904 is NO, program control advances to stepS905, whereat a check is performed to determine a print start key 603 isdepressed. By depressing the print start key 603, the user can printdata in the mode that is set or reset, by the number of copiesequivalent to a predetermined numeral, and thereafter terminates thecopying job.

When the decision at step S905 is NO, program control returns to stepS901, and the process in the intermediate state is repeated.

When the decision at step S905 is YES, program control advances to stepS906.

At step S906, a check is performed to determine whether the settingchange in the intermediate state has been instructed. When the decisionis NO, program control advances to step S907, and the numeral that hasbeen set is decremented and a new numeral is set. When the decision isYES, this process is not performed, and the numeral that is reset in theintermediate state, or the numeral that was previously set ismaintained.

After the process at step S907, or when the decision at step S906 isYES, program control is shifted to step S908, and the trial copying modeis released. Thus, the copying is performed by the number of setsequivalent to the numeral determined by the above method, and isthereafter terminated.

After this process, program control advances to step S909, and a restartrequest for the copying sequence task is issued. At step S910, it isconfirmed that the copying sequence has been initiated, and the trialcopying intermediate control is terminated.

The copying sequence task beginning with the intermediate state will nowbe described while referring again to FIG. 8.

In the intermediate state, at step S807, a check is performed todetermine whether the restart request is issued from the operation unitcontrol task. When the decision is NO, program control is shifted tostep S809, and a check is performed to determine whether a stop requestis received. When the decision is NO, program control returns to stepS807, and the process in the intermediate state is repeated. When thedecision at step S809 is YES, program control advances to step S810, andthe copying sequence that is currently halted is terminated. Then,program control is shifted to step S813. The process after step S813will be descried later.

When the decision at step S807 is YES, program control advances to stepS808, whereat a check is performed to determine whether the trialcopying mode is still set. When the decision is YES, program controlreturns to step S802, and the trial copying operation is performedagain. When the decision at step S808 is NO, program control is shiftedto step S811, and the operation unit control task is notified of thestart of the copying operation. At step S812, the copying operation isinitiated in the mode that is reset at the restart time and based on thenumeral data.

After the copying process is completed, program control is shifted tostep S813, and the operation unit control task is notified that thecopying process is completed and the idle state is recovered. Thecopying sequence task is thereafter terminated.

It should be noted that document reading is not performed duringre-trial copying in the intermediate state, or during the copying afterthe trial copying is released, and that, first, the document image datais read from the image memory 120, and is printed in accordance with themode that is currently set.

Through the above described control, the trial copying is performed inthe following manner.

First, when the trial copying is set, always, image data are printed byone copy, and the operating state is shifted to the resettable,intermediate state. The above described operation is employed to performthe re-trial copying in the intermediate state.

In the printing using the print start key 603, or the printing after thetrial copying mode is released, the numeral is set as follows.

First, when the mode is changed in the intermediate state, the printingis performed by the number equivalent to the numeral that is previouslyset. This is because it is assumed that the number of copies obtained bythe mode change is that the user desires to obtain, and that the userdoes not count the trial copy that was previously output.

When the mode is not changed in the intermediate state, it is assumedthat the user is satisfied with the trial copy, and that the user has adesire to continue printing. In this case, the trial copy is regarded aseffective, and the printing is continued by the number obtained bydecrementing the numeral by one, so that the user can obtain the copiesby the numeral the user originally desires.

Further, while the printing is performed in the trial copying mode,always only one set of copy is provided. However, the numeral that isoriginally set is not changed.

That is, the user need not change the numeral when he or she hasperformed the trial copying and changes the mode later, so that thenumber of copies that the user desires can be finally provided, and thismethod is extremely effective.

Other Embodiment

In the above embodiment, the present invention has been applied forcopying; however, the invention is not limited to this.

For example, a box function has been proposed for a digital copyingmachine.

According to this function, image data received from a scanner or anexternal device can be permanently stored in an image memory, and beprinted when necessary. The trial printing can be applied for theprinting using this box function, and the application of the presentinvention is also effective.

Further, the trial printing can also be applied for a system forreceiving facsimile data, temporarily storing the data in a memory, andreading and printing the data by the instruction from a user. Theapplication of the invention is also effective.

As is described above, the invention can be applied for all theapparatuses that can read an image from a memory and print it, and thatpermits predetermined mode change each time as the image is read.

In these embodiments, a check is performed to determine whether the modeis changed in the temporarily halted state where the trial copying forone set is completed, and then, the numeral is automatically changedaccordingly. That is, when the numeral is changed in the temporarilyhalted state in the trial copying mode, in the coping immediately afterthe trail copying mode is released, copies are made by the numberequivalent to the numeral that is newly set. When the mode other thanthe numeral is changed, the copying is performed by the numberequivalent to the numeral that is set. When the mode is not changed atall, copying is performed by the number obtained by decrementing thenumeral by one. Further, while only one set is defined for trialcopying, the numeral that is set is maintained unchanged. Thus, thenumber of copies that the user desires can be provided, without changingthe numeral setting.

The present invention has been explained during the course of thepreferred embodiments; however, the present invention is not limited tothese embodiments, and can be variously modified without departing fromthe scope of the invention.

1-7. (canceled)
 8. A control method of an image forming apparatus whichhas image forming means for performing an image forming operation basedon an image forming mode set via a first setting operation by a user,said control method comprising: a control step of controlling so as toexecute a trial image forming mode for performing an image formingoperation for confirming the image forming operation based on the imageforming mode set via the first setting operation in accordance with aninstruction for requesting execution of the trial image forming modefrom a user, wherein said control step controls to execute the trialimage forming mode using image data read from an image memory by using abox function enabling the image data to be stored in the image memoryirrespective of print execution of the image data and to read andexecute the image data from the image memory if it is necessary to printthe image data.
 9. A control method according to claim 8, wherein theimage data from at least either a scanner or an external apparatus canbe printed in the trial image forming mode.
 10. A control methodaccording to claim 8, wherein the box function can change the imageforming mode every time the image data is read from the image memory.11. A control method according to claim 8, wherein said control stepcontrols to store the image forming mode in a memory so that the imageforming mode for the image forming operation can be read after the trialimage forming mode is executed.
 12. A control method according to claim8, wherein said control step controls to store the image forming mode inthe image memory so that the image forming mode for the image formingoperation can be read after the trial image forming mode is executed.13. An image forming apparatus comprising: image forming means forperforming an image forming operation based on an image forming mode setvia a first setting operation by a user; and control means forcontrolling so as to execute a trial image forming mode for performingan image forming operation for confirming the image forming operationbased on the image forming mode set via the first setting operation inaccordance with an instruction for requesting an executing of the trialimage forming mode from the user, wherein said control means controls tobe able to execute the trial image forming mode using image data readfrom an image memory by using a box function enabling the image data tobe stored in the image memory irrespective of print execution of theimage data and to read and execute the image data from the image memoryif it is necessary to print the image data.
 14. A computer-readablestorage medium for an image forming apparatus which has image formingmeans capable of performing an image forming operation based on an imageforming mode set via a first setting operation by a user, said storagemedium storing a program to cause the image forming apparatus toexecute: a control step of controlling so as to execute a trial imageforming mode for performing an image forming operation for confirmingthe image forming operation based on the image forming mode set via thefirst setting operation in accordance with an instruction for requestingexecution of the trial image forming mode from a user, wherein saidcontrol step controls to execute the trial image forming mode usingimage data read from an image memory by using a box function enablingthe image data to be stored in the image memory irrespective of printexecution of the image data and to read and execute the image data fromthe image memory if it is necessary to print the image data.